by Thea Martinez and Kate Compton
Every month, over 80,000 Colorado children receive a special package in the mail—a brand-
new, age-appropriate book delivered directly to their doorstep. This simple act represents
something profound: the Imagination Library Colorado program is quietly revolutionizing early
childhood literacy across our state, one book at a time.
What Makes This Program Essential
Imagination Library Colorado provides free monthly books to children from birth through
kindergarten entry, removing the financial barrier that prevents many families from building
home libraries. With Dollywood covering national program costs and Colorado’s innovative
SB20-185, the state budgets other funds to be matched by local Colorado county affiliates.
Currently 59 of the 64 counties are supported.
The impact extends far beyond simply delivering books. Research consistently shows that
children with books in their homes develop stronger language skills and achieve greater reading
proficiency (Schubert and Becker, 2010). These early advantages translate into improved
academic outcomes throughout their educational journey (Evans et al., 2010).
The Power of Home Libraries
For 36% of participating families, Imagination Library serves as their primary source of children’s
books—a statistic that underscores the program’s vital role in addressing book access inequity.
When children have books readily available at home, they can explore reading independently,
revisit favorite stories, and develop the crucial habit of turning to books for entertainment and
learning.
The program’s effectiveness is evident in family behavior changes; 53% of parents report that
their children now bring books to others and request reading time more frequently. This shift
represents exactly what early literacy experts know builds strong readers—children who see
books as sources of joy and connection.
Quality That Matters
Imagination Library doesn’t just deliver any books; it carefully selects high-quality titles that build
vocabulary, print awareness, and letter knowledge. July’s featured book for 4-year-olds
exemplifies this commitment: “When You Love a Book” by Colorado author Kaz Windness and
Illustrator Heather Brockman Lee, a CLEL Bell Award winner that celebrates the very love of
reading the program aims to foster. We know that finding the right book a child loves can make
all the difference.
The recent expansion of bilingual English/Spanish options represents another crucial
advancement, ensuring that children and families can engage with stories in their heart
language while feeling seen and represented.
A Program Under Pressure
Despite its proven impact, Imagination Library Colorado faces significant challenges. State
budget constraints threaten funding stability, while rising costs and growing enrollment create
additional financial pressures for county affiliates. These pressures come at a time when early
literacy support is more crucial than ever, making the program’s sustainability a critical concern
for Colorado’s educational future.
Collaboration Opportunities
● Co-host “book celebration” storytimes in libraries where Imagination Library participants
receive their latest monthly book.
● Highlight the upcoming books by reading or building a program around upcoming books
● Download and print free coloring and activity sheets from Imagination Library.
● Host a literacy night and bring affiliates in to sign up participants.
● Libraries can be a pick up location for patrons if they are concerned about giving away
personal information
● Some library systems act as an enrollment agent while partnering with local fiscal
affiliates.
● Some library systems act as the fiscal affiliate for the county.
Call to Action
● For Parents & Caregivers: Enroll your child in Imagination Library, and connect with
your local library’s offerings—Storytimes, early literacy kits, and caregiver workshops.
● For Libraries: Partner with your local Imagination Library affiliate to host literacy events,
share storytime resources, and incorporate mailed book themes into library
programming. Or use talking points about the value of books to encourage affiliates to
step up.
● For Policymakers & Funders: Support a coordinated approach that blends statewide
home-book delivery with local library-based literacy support—a model for lasting impact.
Imagination Library Colorado and CLEL share a vision: empowering every child to develop
literacy skills and a love of reading before kindergarten. By combining the power of book gifting
and library-based literacy ecosystems, Colorado can nurture stronger readers, stronger families,
and stronger communities—one book, one rhyme, one caregiver interaction at a time.
Resources You May Want To Check Out
https://www.imaginationlibrarycolorado.org
https://www.imaginationlibrarycolorado.org/_files/ugd/2844ce_e6fec682a4364ea29150530dc0c6a359.pdf
denver7.com+1 imagination library denver.org+1
Works Cited
Evans, M. D., Kelley, J., Sikora, J., & Treiman, D. J. (2010). Family scholarly culture and
educational success: Books and schooling in 27 nations.Research in Social Stratification and
Mobility
Schubert, F., & Becker, R. (2010). Social Inequality of Reading Literacy: A Longitudinal Analysis
With Cross-Sectional Data of PIRLS 2001 and PISA 2000 Utilizing the Pairwise Matching
Methodology.Sociology of Education
